Bait Cast Reel Set Up : Pitching ?

[ChrisD46]

How do you like to set up a typical 6 pin centrifugal brake bait cast reel for pitching ? For regular bait cast reel lure casting ,  I turn on 3 to 4 brakes and then tighten the spool tension knob down until the lure just barely creeps downward with the cast button engaged. I cast pretty hard and this set up gives me good distance and does not back lash very often . Obviously for the best pitching set up the spool tension knob will need to be backed off as well as perhaps more brake pins disengaged - what is your bait cast reel  pitching set up for ease of use without back lashing while pitching ?

[Tatulatard]

I would back off on the spool tension knob when casting.  All my reels have zero or near zero spool tension.  My pitching settings are the same as my casting other than maybe I run the external brake a little higher if the spool is too wild when pitching.

[FishTank]

3 or 4 on and the tension knob is loose. I use my thumb to control the spool.

[Mike L]

13 minutes ago, FishTank said:

3 or 4 on and the tension knob is loose. I use my thumb to control the spool.

Ditto

 

 

Most brakes on are usually 1 less than 1/2 of what’s available and never touch them again. 
I don’t use magnetic only reels 
 

 

 

Mike

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

7 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

How do you like to set up a typical 6 pin centrifugal brake bait cast reel for pitching ? For regular bait cast reel lure casting ,  I turn on 3 to 4 brakes and then tighten the spool tension knob down until the lure just barely creeps downward with the cast button engaged. I cast pretty hard and this set up gives me good distance and does not back lash very often . Obviously for the best pitching set up the spool tension knob will need to be backed off as well as perhaps more brake pins disengaged - what is your bait cast reel  pitching set up for ease of use without back lashing while pitching ?

Thats way too tight you aint getin good distance.

My spool tension doenst change based off type of use, its always loose.

[Hammer 4]

3 on, no spool tension. Thumb controls everything.

[PressuredFishing]

I like it loose

[ChrisD46]

I'm at 3 brakes on (just for even braking) and will back off the spool tension knob to see what I can come up with for pitching . If I need to go further , I'll drop down to 2 brakes out of 6 but should not need to go below thaat I believe .

 

*I watch a lot of Pros throwing a bait cast reel and as hard as they throw as well as visually confirming  their thumb is not contacting the spool until the end of the cast  I say this : The is no way those guys are not running any brakes on bait cast without a giant birds nest - just not possible as hard as they throw (unless their bait cast reels are electronic) !  I use 50% of my brakes on with the spool tension knob properly adjusted and I am getting plenty of distance and am right on the edge of back lashing . I can see going down to 2 out of 6 brakes for another 5 to 10 yards with a better trained thumb on the spool . However , I like covering water without back lashes and currently get the distance and accuracy I need , so I don't feel like I'm lacking any performance with my inexpensive , old school , centrifugal bait cast reels . 

[Catt]

20 hours ago, Mike L said:

Most brakes on are usually 1 less than 1/2 of what’s available and never touch them again

 

I go with 1/2 of what's available, every other one. Never to be touched again!

 

Spool tension is adjusted to the lure tied on. Wouldn't call it loose but it ain't tight either.

 

Thumb has a doctoral degree!

[Jigfishn10]

2 of 6 pins, spool tension knobs never gets adjusted. The tension knob is adjusted to take out side to side play of the spool and left at that. Like @Catt, my thumb on the spool is the tool.

[Tatulatard]

1 hour ago, ChrisD46 said:

I'm at 3 brakes on (just for even braking) and will back off the spool tension knob to see what I can come up with for pitching . If I need to go further , I'll drop down to 2 brakes out of 6 but should not need to go below thaat I believe .

 

*I watch a lot of Pros throwing a bait cast reel and as hard as they throw as well as visually confirming  their thumb is not contacting the spool until the end of the cast  I say this : The is no way those guys are not running any brakes on bait cast without a giant birds nest - just not possible as hard as they throw (unless their bait cast reels are electronic) !  I use 50% of my brakes on with the spool tension knob properly adjusted and I am getting plenty of distance and am right on the edge of back lashing . I can see going down to 2 out of 6 brakes for another 5 to 10 yards with a better trained thumb on the spool . However , I like covering water without back lashes and currently get the distance and accuracy I need , so I don't feel like I'm lacking any performance with my inexpensive , old school , centrifugal bait cast reels . 

I cast the same way as those pros and run zero spool tension on all my reels.  The braking system can handle the spool until the end of the cast and you thumb takes over.  You dont need spool tension.  

[Bankc]

Brakes shouldn't matter for pitching.  You're not flinging the bait far enough or hard enough for them to really engage.  If I'm going to be doing a lot of pitching, and won't be using that reel for anything else, I'll take all of the brakes off, just in case they might accidentally engage.  Same with spool tension.  I'll remove that completely.  For pitching, I like to rely on my thumb for everything.  

 

If I'm switching back and forth between pitching and casting, I'll just leave the brakes set to wherever they need to be for casting.  Sometimes I'll mess with the spool tension if it's windy or I'm trying to bomb the bait when I switch back and forth.  Otherwise, if I'm worried about overruns, I'll typically just use my thumb to slow it down.  Ordinarily, when I'm mixing pitching and casting, I'm not doing long, hard casts.  

[NoShoes]

Next to no brakes and loose spool. Thumb runs the show. 

[J Francho]

On 4/7/2022 at 8:50 AM, ChrisD46 said:

How do you like to set up a typical 6 pin centrifugal brake bait cast reel for pitching ?

Same as everything else: 4 in a X pattern.  Zero spool tension.

[ChrisD46]

*Now I know why guys practice their pitching set ups using small buckets in the back yard ! ... Trusting that zero tension and control the landing with the thumb is the deal that takes a little practice first to get the timing and feel right ... Gotta work that left hand into the pitching mix too or else I will forever be switching the rod back and forth after every pitch  (I am VERY right hand dominent) .

[Bankbeater]

2 pins and no tension.  I keep my thumb on the spool at all times.

[RDB]

On 4/7/2022 at 7:50 AM, ChrisD46 said:

I cast pretty hard and this set up gives me good distance and does not back lash very often .

A lot of people use tighter spool tension/brakes because they don’t want backlashes.  The problem is, the extra exertion to achieve distance leads to less consistency and more backlashes.  I was a competitive golfer in my younger years, so to draw a parallel, the key to a great golf swing is to develop a simple, consistent, and replicable motion and to remove all unnecessary movements.  The same holds true whether it’s a baseball swing, a free throw, etc., etc. and IMO, it’s true for a cast as well.  With tensions tightened, you are never going to achieve the accuracy or consistency of someone using minimal tension.  If you can simplify the cast by minimizing the casting motion, I think you will find that backlashes become infrequent and accuracy will improve greatly.  If you use a baitcaster, just accept that you are going to get the occasional backlash.  The tradeoff to never getting a backlash is a loss in effectiveness.

 

As far as pitching, if you can achieve the above, the pins and tension become a non factor…it’s all the same.

[KP Duty]

I read an article probably 30yrs ago that informed me that for pitching, you turn your brakes completely off, and set your spool tension so that when your bait hits the ground you get no over-run.

Me?  I'm usually casting AND pitching, so however my  reel is set for casting purposes is ususlly what I pitch with.

 

[RDB]

11 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

I read an article probably 30yrs ago that informed me that for pitching, you turn your brakes completely off, and set your spool tension so that when your bait hits the ground you get no over-run.

Me?  I'm usually casting AND pitching, so however my  reel is set for casting purposes is ususlly what I pitch with.

 

IMO, the biggest thing you want to avoid is lure pendulum after release.  If you have the spool tension too tight, that initial startup resistance on release allows the lure to pendulum up slightly and leads to a higher trajectory.  I choose minimal spool tension because it allows me to keep the lure close to the water to minimize splash.

[Mike L]

19 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Now I know why guys practice their pitching set ups using small buckets in the back yard. 

That’s how I taught myself. 
Started with a tree stump then down to a coffee can. 
 

I remember when I first started practicing flipping, I went with the same can and ended up targeting an oak leaf. 
 

19 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

Gotta work that left hand into the pitching mix too or else I will forever be switching the rod back and forth after every pitch  (I am VERY right hand dominent) .

I use right all right handed reels and have no desire to change. 
 

When on a pitching bite, 80% of all subsequent pitches after the initial one are with my left arm. 
It takes practice and some getting used too, but once you get into a rhythm with it, there’s nothing to it. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

[RDB]

9 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I use right all right handed reels and have no desire to change. 
 

When on a pitching bite, 80% of all subsequent pitches after the initial one are with my left arm. 

Samesies

[Dwight Hottle]

21 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Now I know why guys practice their pitching set ups using small buckets in the back yard ! ... Trusting that zero tension and control the landing with the thumb is the deal that takes a little practice first to get the timing and feel right ... Gotta work that left hand into the pitching mix too or else I will forever be switching the rod back and forth after every pitch  (I am VERY right hand dominent) .

 

Consider buying a lefty reel just for pitching. It makes it so much simpler. 

[NoShoes]

I just fish lefty all the time even though Im righty. Makes me the black sheep of the family. 

[Tatulatard]

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

Consider buying a lefty reel just for pitching. It makes it so much simpler. 

I did this and the hard part is learning how to pitch while holding the reel.  Easier than learning to pitch left handed I suppose.

[ChrisD46]

I will stay with right-handed bait cast reels and learn to pitch the rod with my left hand - I have enough bait cast reels already as it is (lol) !